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mitt romney and barack obama will be trying to reach a shrinking pool of undecided voters. joining me for our daily fix, chris cizilla. the challenges for both. everyone trying to lower expectations but the fact is, that both of these -- both of these debaters are experienced, they both had primary debates but there is a challenge first for mitt romney, he's never gone head-to-head against barack obama and for the president, he has not debated in a while. he didn't have any -- of course didn't have any primary challenges this year. >> right. andrea, i always think it's hilarious, last night in las vegas barack obama said i'm an okay debater. it's like when lou holtz was the coach of notre dame and playing east/west texas state, i don't know, they're pretty strong this year. you have to put it in some context. both of these people as you point out have risen to a point where they are the nominees for president for the parties. neither are bad debaters. they are both able and capable. you're right. look, barack obama hasn't debated in four years. mitt romney has had a lot of
mitt romney and barack obama will be trying to reach a shrinking pool of undecided voters. joining me for our daily fix, chris cizilla. the challenges for both. everyone trying to lower expectations but the fact is, that both of these -- both of these debaters are experienced, they both had primary debates but there is a challenge first for mitt romney, he's never gone head-to-head against barack obama and for the president, he has not debated in a while. he didn't have any -- of course didn't...
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>> whatever it was, obama should have had some of it. the poll, the tracking is beginning to reflect -- >> we're getting into the big issues tonight and for the coming two presidential debates. >> i think that joe biden is going to draw up big. everyone wants to know if everyone's going to do it. to some extent i think it will be like nascar. is he going to make a mistake? the democrats have argued that romney's claim during last week's debate, it's actually a plan to cut $5 billion in taxes, but he did it again tonight on cnn just a short time ago. the obama attacks are false, let's see what you think here. >> he ignores the fact that they're going to limit the deduction and -- he ignores that part. obviously that was corrected by the deputy campaign manager who stipulated the $5 trillion number was wrong. it's completely wrong. the combination of limiting deductions as well as growth of our economy will make up for the reduction in rate. >> bob shrum, thank got in the rest of this discussion with wolf blitzer, he clarified the fact he'
>> whatever it was, obama should have had some of it. the poll, the tracking is beginning to reflect -- >> we're getting into the big issues tonight and for the coming two presidential debates. >> i think that joe biden is going to draw up big. everyone wants to know if everyone's going to do it. to some extent i think it will be like nascar. is he going to make a mistake? the democrats have argued that romney's claim during last week's debate, it's actually a plan to cut $5...
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presidential race. let's check the "hardball" scoreboard. according to a new "washington post"/abc news poll, president obama has a two-point lead holding there, 49%/47%. same score in the new politico poll. obama by two, 49%/47%. "the new york times" this weekend reported on the two campaigns' ongoing debate preps. here is what they said about romney's prep. quote, mr. romney's team has concluded that the debates are about creating moments and has equipped him with a series of zingers he's memorized and has been practicing on aides since august. bob shrum, you have been on that particular role, preparing candidates for debate. what do you make of romney, a rather stiff customer to begin with, coming off as sort of a henny youngman or whatever, some sort of a don rickles with some zingers. i don't think of him as a zinger kind of guy where obama is expected to be left helpless. what do you make of that strategy? >> first of all, if you had it, you wouldn't announce it. it's kind of stupid. >> why are th
presidential race. let's check the "hardball" scoreboard. according to a new "washington post"/abc news poll, president obama has a two-point lead holding there, 49%/47%. same score in the new politico poll. obama by two, 49%/47%. "the new york times" this weekend reported on the two campaigns' ongoing debate preps. here is what they said about romney's prep. quote, mr. romney's team has concluded that the debates are about creating moments and has equipped him...
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and the two remaining presidential debates. today the obama camp released this ad going back to romney's line about big bird. this i think is mickey mouse but let's take a look. >> bernie madoff, ken lay, dennis kozlowski, criminals, gluttons of greed and the evil genius who towered over them. one man has the guts to speak his name. >> big bird, big bird, big bird. >> it's me, big bird. >> big, yellow, a menace to our economy. mitt romney knows it's not wall street you have to worry about, it's sesame street. >> i'm going to stop this subsidy to pbs. >> mitt romney taking oun our enemies no malter where they nest. >> please, god, just for a minute, shrumy, and you too, michael, be independent minded and answer this question. is that the right way to go in this crucial last month to be focusing on big bird? >> no, it's not. no, it's not, number one. number two, they're not broadcasting that ad in the battleground states at any heavy level. number three, they shouldn't. number four, we should be talking about who is going to save
and the two remaining presidential debates. today the obama camp released this ad going back to romney's line about big bird. this i think is mickey mouse but let's take a look. >> bernie madoff, ken lay, dennis kozlowski, criminals, gluttons of greed and the evil genius who towered over them. one man has the guts to speak his name. >> big bird, big bird, big bird. >> it's me, big bird. >> big, yellow, a menace to our economy. mitt romney knows it's not wall street you...
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so the first televised presidential debate that we had was in 1960. here are all of the other years that we have since have televised presidential debates. every four years now we have these debates on tv. the only years, though, so these are all the years, right, right? the only years, though, in which you had an incumbent president running against a challenger in all of the years we've had presidential debates on tv are these years. so in terms of understanding the historical context of what happened last night when mitt romney beat president obama in this first debate, this is the universe of like things to compare it to. this is how to understand it in terms of american political history. it's only these years right here. that's it. now, by definition, you never have an incumbent president in this situation more than once. presidents can only serve two terms so there's only one opportunity when they carry into that debate, when they're running for re-election, they carry into that debate the gravitas of being the president of the united states fac
so the first televised presidential debate that we had was in 1960. here are all of the other years that we have since have televised presidential debates. every four years now we have these debates on tv. the only years, though, so these are all the years, right, right? the only years, though, in which you had an incumbent president running against a challenger in all of the years we've had presidential debates on tv are these years. so in terms of understanding the historical context of what...
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it shows the race between president obama and mitt romney closer than ever. tracie potts has more on that from washington. good morning. >> lynn, good morning. mitt romney is going to iowa today to a family farm before heading off to ohio where we'll hear his repeat his new campaign line. mitt romney has a new campaign line today. >> hope is not a strategy. >> reporter: we first heard it in the foreign policy speech monday. he argues, president obama's policies have made the world more dangerous. >> it's a risk of conflict in the region is higher now than when the president took office. >> romney promised to create one point person to deal with the middle east, arm syria's rebels, sanction iran if needed, expand the navy and push free trade. democrats aren't impressed. >> i'm a professor. he gave absolutely no specifics. >> polls are now split on romney's popularity. pugh has him up four points among likely voters. the positive jobs report gave president obama a five point boost. according to hispanic voters in california, president obama moves to ohio today
it shows the race between president obama and mitt romney closer than ever. tracie potts has more on that from washington. good morning. >> lynn, good morning. mitt romney is going to iowa today to a family farm before heading off to ohio where we'll hear his repeat his new campaign line. mitt romney has a new campaign line today. >> hope is not a strategy. >> reporter: we first heard it in the foreign policy speech monday. he argues, president obama's policies have made the...
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he has to perform. >> he has to look more presidential than in london. he has to say the economy looks worse than it does right now. and the 47% comment he was caught making where he basically cashiered half of the country out of existence. will romney be hawned by that 47% comment? here's one of the best lines of the year, bill clinton, up in new hampshire, his old stomping grounds. here he is taking on romney. this guy is a killer these dies. let's watch clinton destroy romney. >> i couldn't believe the other day when -- when the president's opponents said that the 47% of the american people who don't pay income tax just want to hang around, be dependent on the government and, you know, we just had to wean them off of that. because they didn't want to pay income tax. now, a guy with a tax account in the caymen islands is attacking other people for not wanting -- you have to give him credit, like i said. >> i love it when they put it together. when they put it together, this guy, bunch of bumz that don't want to pay the taxes and then a guy with a quart
he has to perform. >> he has to look more presidential than in london. he has to say the economy looks worse than it does right now. and the 47% comment he was caught making where he basically cashiered half of the country out of existence. will romney be hawned by that 47% comment? here's one of the best lines of the year, bill clinton, up in new hampshire, his old stomping grounds. here he is taking on romney. this guy is a killer these dies. let's watch clinton destroy romney. >>...
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now just ahead of the first presidential debate, the obama campaign has released this hard-hitting ad in several manufacturing and swing states. here it is. >> these appliances could have been made here in america, but a company called global tech maximized profits by paying employees next to nothing. when mitt romney led bain, they saw it as a good investment even knowing that the firm promoted its practice of low-wage labor. mitt romney, tough on china? since when? >> a romney spokeswoman responded, this is another overboard ad from a president trying to distract from his failure to stand up to china. the statement goes on, but not once does it actually deny any of the charges against mitt romney. let's turn to ohio senator sherrod brown. good to have you with us tonight. i think this latest obama ad plays right to the workers of ohio. mitt romney and bain capital were at the forefront of outsourcing jobs to china. what has outsourcing done to other manufacturing states? how damaging is this? >> it's been very damaging. we have seen a trade deficit explode. take auto parts. ten year
now just ahead of the first presidential debate, the obama campaign has released this hard-hitting ad in several manufacturing and swing states. here it is. >> these appliances could have been made here in america, but a company called global tech maximized profits by paying employees next to nothing. when mitt romney led bain, they saw it as a good investment even knowing that the firm promoted its practice of low-wage labor. mitt romney, tough on china? since when? >> a romney...
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need to start delineating between what the obama campaipresidency looks li romney's presidentially will look like. i agree with you, we're getting down to the 11th hour and there's one final debate and i really hope that romney takes this time to lay it out word for word in a simple and accessible way because this is just too complicated for people. >> when you think of the fact that the economy is not -- has not recovered at the rate we'd like, as quickly as we'd like, and that was going to be romney's issue and according to the polls, he and the president is tied here, what can he do, megan, as a republican? if he was watching, what could he do on wednesday night that could give him the edge back on the economy? that was going to be his issue. >> there's a lot of ammo out there right now. if i were governor romney i would start talking about libya, the terrorist attack that jay carney will say but the president will not say has happened. the deficit is over 16%. that's the types of things i would start doing and on their brass tax facts that they can be using and we're making it vague
need to start delineating between what the obama campaipresidency looks li romney's presidentially will look like. i agree with you, we're getting down to the 11th hour and there's one final debate and i really hope that romney takes this time to lay it out word for word in a simple and accessible way because this is just too complicated for people. >> when you think of the fact that the economy is not -- has not recovered at the rate we'd like, as quickly as we'd like, and that was going...
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to presidential debates. he also i can tell you had one more practice session last night after president obama had a campaign event in las vegas. now, as you pointed out, both sides are really trying to tamper down expectations. lavishing praise on the other candidate. that is because there's so much at stake in these debates really for most candidates. mitt romney tried to turn his campaign around, but president obama trying to hold on to the narrow lead you mentioned in your introduction. really trying to tamp down expectations. should also point out that president obama holding his debate camp right here in nevada which is a key swing state. one of the states he's hoping to win in november. he has a small lead in this state according to the abc wall street journal poll. he's trying to garner excitement by holding his debate camp here. he had a campaign event last night in las vegas. campaign officials tell me we shouldn't be surprised to see him shake a few hands over the next few days to garner more excit
to presidential debates. he also i can tell you had one more practice session last night after president obama had a campaign event in las vegas. now, as you pointed out, both sides are really trying to tamper down expectations. lavishing praise on the other candidate. that is because there's so much at stake in these debates really for most candidates. mitt romney tried to turn his campaign around, but president obama trying to hold on to the narrow lead you mentioned in your introduction....
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he was an announced presidential candidate. so there was nothing secret about this on-camera, open-press event. >> but mike, did the media fail to cover it completely? did it leave out parts that would have been harmful to president obama, which is the argument made by the daily caller? >> yeah, i think in any speech like this, you're going to do it selectively. and apparently, then-senator obama departed notably from his text, maybe a lot of the stories were done. but what we're seeing, willie, here is a video that's designed to play to the republican base, to remind them that whatever they think about mitt romney, he's better than barack obama, if you're a hard-right conservative republican. so this is to get them to stick with their choice and to turn out. >> and then quickly on the paul ryan video. what do you make of that? he says only 70% of americans want the american dream. the other 30% want the welfare state. >> willie, if you listen to the whole tape, what i took away from it is that mitt romney would be a lot better
he was an announced presidential candidate. so there was nothing secret about this on-camera, open-press event. >> but mike, did the media fail to cover it completely? did it leave out parts that would have been harmful to president obama, which is the argument made by the daily caller? >> yeah, i think in any speech like this, you're going to do it selectively. and apparently, then-senator obama departed notably from his text, maybe a lot of the stories were done. but what we're...
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will barack obama and sherrod brown will ohio? >> yeah, i think we both will. so goes ohio, so goes the nation. and president obama is doing well here because he makes a distinction. are you for the middle class or are you for helping the 47% and hoping it trickles down. and the voters don't think that way. the voters ultimately dwont look at conservative/liberal, they look at who is on your side and it's pretty clear in the race for the senate and ohio, that's why so many people are coming up to sherrod brown.com and signing up to help us and it's pretty clear with the presidential race. p. >> no republican ever won without winning ohio. senator share read brown, thanks for your time tonight. >> my pleasure. thanks reverend al. >>> still ahead, save big bird. he's now working for food. he's on the unemployment line. so what is with governor romney's obsession with firing big bird? >>> plus, folks, we are putting up the facts that mitt romney misrepresented about his plans. they're on our facebook page. please go there. check it out. facts do matter. ♪ [ male
will barack obama and sherrod brown will ohio? >> yeah, i think we both will. so goes ohio, so goes the nation. and president obama is doing well here because he makes a distinction. are you for the middle class or are you for helping the 47% and hoping it trickles down. and the voters don't think that way. the voters ultimately dwont look at conservative/liberal, they look at who is on your side and it's pretty clear in the race for the senate and ohio, that's why so many people are...
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we're going to get his expectations for the first presidential debate and his thoughts on president obama's foreign policy. >>> and in a few minutes, democratic senator chuck schumer. you're watching "morning show brewed by starbucks. ...at the best schools in the world... ...you see they all have something very interesting in common. they have teachers... ...with a deeper knowledge of their subjects. as a result, their students achieve at a higher level. let's develop more stars in education. let's invest in our teachers... ...so they can inspire our students. let's solve this. thor's couture gets the most rewards of any small business credit card. your boa! [ garth ] thor's small business earns double miles on every purchase, every day! ahh, the new fabrics, put it on my spark card. [ garth ] why settle for less? the spiked heels are working. wait! [ garth ] great businesses deserve the most rewards! [ male announcer ] the spark business card from capital one. choose unlimited rewards with double miles or 2% cash back on every purchase, every day! what's in your wallet? [ cheers and appla
we're going to get his expectations for the first presidential debate and his thoughts on president obama's foreign policy. >>> and in a few minutes, democratic senator chuck schumer. you're watching "morning show brewed by starbucks. ...at the best schools in the world... ...you see they all have something very interesting in common. they have teachers... ...with a deeper knowledge of their subjects. as a result, their students achieve at a higher level. let's develop more stars...
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. >> which presidential candidate looks better wet. i'm glad to finally get to those independent voters who are like -- >> what is your answer to this. >> obama. >> by a mile. >> like a wet t-shirt contest. surprised it wasn't in slow mo, didn't do this thing with his hair. >> the collar alone, no, not good. >> i will say look, we've seen a change in mitt romney's general personage on the national stage and it was as far as mitt romney moments go, i thought he looked pretty strong out there. >> he did preside. but we're judging him on a weak curve of humanity, doesn't seem as robotic as had he used to be, but which is not actually human. >> the rain coat personifies a problem which is we still don't know who he is. not taken off the rain coat. the facts on the ground are the same. we don't know what his policies are, foreign policy in particular, economic policies. >> let's talk about the foreign policy thing. a wide range of reactions to the foreign policy speech that mitt romney gave yesterday. madeleine albright did not have much of
. >> which presidential candidate looks better wet. i'm glad to finally get to those independent voters who are like -- >> what is your answer to this. >> obama. >> by a mile. >> like a wet t-shirt contest. surprised it wasn't in slow mo, didn't do this thing with his hair. >> the collar alone, no, not good. >> i will say look, we've seen a change in mitt romney's general personage on the national stage and it was as far as mitt romney moments go, i...
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from the obama campaign jen saki. lester holt is live in afghanistan where three more americans died today after a suicide bomb. and curry reports from the syrian border. is iraq beginning to come apart at seams? more on that to come. "andrea mitchell reports" next on msnbc. xwch ♪ it has everything to put you in the malibu state of mind no matter what state you live in. ♪ stay top of mind with customers? from deals that bring them in with an offer... to social media promotions that turn fans into customers... to events that engage and create buzz... to e-mails that keep loyal customers coming back, our easy-to-use tools will keep you in front of your customers. see what's right for you at constantcontact.com/try.
from the obama campaign jen saki. lester holt is live in afghanistan where three more americans died today after a suicide bomb. and curry reports from the syrian border. is iraq beginning to come apart at seams? more on that to come. "andrea mitchell reports" next on msnbc. xwch ♪ it has everything to put you in the malibu state of mind no matter what state you live in. ♪ stay top of mind with customers? from deals that bring them in with an offer... to social media promotions...
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for political comedians the presidential debate is the gift that keeps on giving, and nobody does it better than "saturday night live." this week's show tapped into the zeitgeist of last wednesday's debate, romney stretching the truth and obama not catching him. let's watch. >> the anniversary gift, i can't believe i forgot the anniversary gift. okay. i'll be out of here by 9:00 local time. i'll have the secret service distract michelle while i hit the hotel gift shop for some kind of anniversary president. they had a denver broncos sweatshirt. she might like that. the hotel had some nice bathrobes for sale. that could be good. >> excuse me, governor, mr. president? >> i'm sorry, yeah, yeah. what's up? >> mr. president, governor romney has just said that he killed osama bin laden. would you care to respond? >> no, you two go ahead. >> with me now is lizz winstead, creator of "the daily show" and author of "lizz free or die," and nia-malika henderson. what did you think of what you saw so far, ladies? is this going to educate america or de-educate us? what's all this satire going to d
for political comedians the presidential debate is the gift that keeps on giving, and nobody does it better than "saturday night live." this week's show tapped into the zeitgeist of last wednesday's debate, romney stretching the truth and obama not catching him. let's watch. >> the anniversary gift, i can't believe i forgot the anniversary gift. okay. i'll be out of here by 9:00 local time. i'll have the secret service distract michelle while i hit the hotel gift shop for some...
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diplomats were attacked in libya, showed a lack of presidential character. if this is how he handles the world now, just think what mitt romney might do as president. >> in a statement, liz smith says quote it's clear on every measure, mitt romney fails the commander in chief test. well, just about two hours from now, romney will deliver that speech at virginia military institute. peter alexander is traveling with the romney campaign in lexington, virginia and joins me now and peter, this is a speech that is largely about the middle east. we're not hearing a lot about asia, a lot about russia. this is really going to be focused on syria, iran, libya and afghanistan. is it not? >> yeah, i think you're exactly right. going to focus on the middle east and northern africa, libya specifically. mitt romney as you noted, will accuse the president of saying that simple language, that hope is not a strategy. trying to -- harry truman and reagan. this speech is almost dedicated to george marshall. we're here at the hall of valor. it is in the battleground state of vir
diplomats were attacked in libya, showed a lack of presidential character. if this is how he handles the world now, just think what mitt romney might do as president. >> in a statement, liz smith says quote it's clear on every measure, mitt romney fails the commander in chief test. well, just about two hours from now, romney will deliver that speech at virginia military institute. peter alexander is traveling with the romney campaign in lexington, virginia and joins me now and peter, this...
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yeah, calming a crying baby is not actually presidential, it is just my favorite obama moment. because here is the deal. the presidency itself is weak, which is why americans want presidents themselves to be strong. i just encourage us not to confuse aggressiveness with strength. and that is our show for today, thank you to ken g, robert and chloe for sticking around. also, thank you for joining us, despite my laryngitis, and we'll see you next weekend. coming up next, alex witt. ♪ ♪ [ multiple sounds making melodic tune ] ♪ [ male announcer ] at northrop grumman, every innovation, every solution, comes together for a single purpose -- to make the world a safer place. that's the value of performance. northrop grumman. droid does. and does it launch apps by voice while learning your voice ? launch cab4me.
yeah, calming a crying baby is not actually presidential, it is just my favorite obama moment. because here is the deal. the presidency itself is weak, which is why americans want presidents themselves to be strong. i just encourage us not to confuse aggressiveness with strength. and that is our show for today, thank you to ken g, robert and chloe for sticking around. also, thank you for joining us, despite my laryngitis, and we'll see you next weekend. coming up next, alex witt. ♪ ♪ [...
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i think that months and months after we were in a close race, president obama is starting to get his edge, we're back in the place now, a surprising place to be this year. and the next couple of debates, the vice presidential debate next week, they will take on added significance, i really didn't think we would be here at this point in the campaign. >> and i'm going to say, just in bottom line, i said it just got really interesting this week. there was sort of a trend, and i think there were a lot of people out there putting predictions prior to this past week, and now look where we are. but eleanor, you said mitt romney was skilled in mixing facts with falsehoods, and did little last night to create a bond of trust with the people. his glib, even slick performance may score with the debate coaches, but the american people may not be similarly wowed. do you still feel that today? >> yes, the fact checkers are still all over mitt romneys, reversing some of his ideas, and his key proposals. so i think he is paying a price for not having formed a bond of trust with the american people e
i think that months and months after we were in a close race, president obama is starting to get his edge, we're back in the place now, a surprising place to be this year. and the next couple of debates, the vice presidential debate next week, they will take on added significance, i really didn't think we would be here at this point in the campaign. >> and i'm going to say, just in bottom line, i said it just got really interesting this week. there was sort of a trend, and i think there...
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by the end of the debate, obama looked small, uncertain, it was romney with the presidential look. after a failed presidential term, so failed that obama barely even bothers to make the case, preferring to blame everything on his predecessor hinge almost entirely on whether the challenger can meet the threshold of acceptablibility. romney trushed the threshold on wednesday night. >> donny, you're shaking your head yes. >> interesting thought on how you can understand this could happen. in my mind, i think i was the smartest guy in advertising. and if all of a sudden i'm on stage with a guy who's got a small advertising agency -- >> by the way, nobody challenged you for four years in a row. >> and i now -- he's describing his media strategy. it's like, what? i'm going to talk to -- like you can see the psychology behind it. if you're going up against a guy who has a little public access talk show and you have to go one on one, it's like you can't help but go, i don't deserve to be doing this. now, unfortunately, you've got to, and that's what happened to the guy. >> it is human natu
by the end of the debate, obama looked small, uncertain, it was romney with the presidential look. after a failed presidential term, so failed that obama barely even bothers to make the case, preferring to blame everything on his predecessor hinge almost entirely on whether the challenger can meet the threshold of acceptablibility. romney trushed the threshold on wednesday night. >> donny, you're shaking your head yes. >> interesting thought on how you can understand this could...